< Sophie's POV >

"UGH, IGGY! WHY do you have to fart on me all the time?!?" I screech, smacking him with a pillow and fleeing my bedroom.

One second I'm checking out the new upgrade Dex added to my iPod- and the next, Iggy swoops onto my lap looking all innocent and snuggly... only to let out the loudest and smelliest fart in recorded history.

Classic Glitterbutt.

Grumbling, I plod down the stairs, lured by the scent of fresh blitzenberry muffins. Edaline's been on a full-out stress-baking spree lately, ever since everything calmed down. (Apparently, surviving another near-death scenario equals daily baked goods now.)

I slide into a chair and give her my best grin. "Hey, Edaline."

She's mid-whisk, covered in flour and love. "Morning, sunshine."

"Where's Grady?" I ask.

"Oh, you know... out with the sasquatches. With Keefe." She winks and hands me a muffin.

I nearly choke. "Keefe? Hanging out with Grady? Without me knowing?!"

She chuckles. "Sweetheart, is that a problem? They get along quite well. And Keefe said he'd talk to you later."

"Huh. I guess that's fine, but I wanted to ask y-"

SOPHIE! SOPHIE! FRIEND! HELP! GLITTERBUTT! SCARED!

My eyes widen.

Edaline frowns. "Sophie? What was that?"

"Silveny's calling for help!" I shout, already halfway out the door. "Be right back!"

I'm sprinting so fast I don't even notice who I'm barreling straight into until-

"WOAH, WOAH, WOAH! Chill, kiddo!" Grady catches me before I bowl him over. "Where are you headed like that?! You nearly started lifting off into a teleport!"

"Silveny's in trouble! I have to go-"

"She's fine, Sophie," he sighs. "I just left her with Keefe."

I freeze.

Oh.
Ohhh.

That little traitor.

Keefe knew I'd freak out over a call like that.

"...Never mind," I mumble. "Sorry, Dad. Heh..."

I march toward the Panakes tree, fuming- but my anger slips the second I spot him.

Keefe's sitting in the grass, Silveny and Wynn nudging him affectionately. His hair is wind-mussed and his blue eyes catch the sunlight in that annoyingly gorgeous way.

Even though I'm mad, the feeling melts almost instantly.

He glances up and smirks. "Hey Foster! Got Silveny's message, huh?"

"It's not funny, Keefe. I really thought she was in danger!"

"Yet here you are, still smiling."

I roll my eyes. "Because you're making me smile."

"Aww, you mean that, Foster? I'm flattered."

I sigh and flop down beside him, stroking Luna's soft nose.

Then Keefe pulls something from behind his back: a painting. His fourth one this month.

"For you, Foster," he says, handing it over. "And before you ask: it's because I can- and because I love you."

It's a watercolor of us dancing beneath the stars in the glowing grove where we shared our first kiss.

My heart softens like melted mallowmelt. I lean over and press a gentle kiss to his cheek.

"Thank you, Keefe... Ugh. I can't stay mad at you, can I?"

"You never stay mad at me for long. You always come running back- and you know it." He winks, laughing.

I rest my head on his lap. He strokes my hair gently, and we sit like that, quiet and content...

Until a loud crack of thunder splits the skky.

I bolt upright. "Keefe! Help me round up the animals- then activate the rain shield!"

We scramble, herding imps, banshees, verminions, and gremlins into their enclosures.

Grady and Edaline are wrangling the mammoths, so once everything's secured, Keefe and I head inside.

We settle with snacks, chatting about Foxfire and debating who's the most dramatic elf in our year (spoiler: it's still Keefe), when a sharp knock echoes through the house.

We trade a glance.

I get up and open the door-

And there stands Fitz.

A parcel tucked under his arm.

A too-warm smile on his face.